Cameras set up at a home to keep an eye on pets became vital in catching a burglar who broke in at night.

Stills from cameras in the kitchen and lounge of the house in Bower Mount Road, Maidstone, were used to identify Darren Moore - a prolific offender who had committed his 22nd burglary.

Alison Simmons and her family had gone to bed on February 26 this year when the “creeper burglary” was committed.

Prosecutor Danny Moore said the next morning it was discovered the lights were on downstairs and the front door was open. The lock was damaged.

Mrs Simmons found that her handbag, iPad and other property worth about £1,229 were missing.

After checking the cameras, which had motion sensors, she received an alert from the tablet which had tracking software.

It led police to an address in Lindisfarne Gardens in the town on March 14 where Moore was staying.

Mr Moore told Maidstone Crown Court stills from the cameras showed that the 46-year-old drug addict was prowling around the house at 5.20am.

Moore was still wearing the same clothes shown in the stills. He confirmed he had been the intruder. He said he sold the iPad and threw the other property away.

His previous convictions totalled 20 for 42 offences. He had previously been jailed for five years for burglary and 10 years for aggravated burglary. He was released from that sentence in May 2013.

Keith Middleton, defending, said Moore “readily accepted” the stills were of him. He was homeless at the time and sleeping on a friend’s sofa. He lost his job as a mobile cleaner in September last year.

“He succumbed to the use of drugs to escape the drudgery of sleeping in hallways,” said Mr Middleton. “He says his life is like a revolving door, going in and out of prison.”

Jailing Moore for three years and four months, Judge Philip St John-Stevens said such offences had a profound effect on victims.

“It is aggravated by being under the influence of drugs at the time and previous convictions,” he added.

After the sentencing, Detective Raj Dusanjh said: “The steps taken by the victim to safeguard their property have helped us enormously during this investigation.

“What this case really highlights though is the importance of installing a tracking app on items such as mobile phones and tablets.

“By installing tracking software you can greatly increase the chances of lost or stolen possessions being recovered by police, whilst at the same time it can also help us find and prosecute criminals.”